I took these pictures of the net metering meter at the Superior Colorado North Pool on October 2 2009. I took them because I want to come back next year in Oct. 2010 to read it again to see what the result is of 1 year of solar panel use.

Without any energy efficiency measures being taken, this system will offset approximately 15-20% of annual energy costs.

I have a feeling that it will do much better than that, I will guess 50%. So that is why I took these pictures. However I have no idea how to read this meter since as you can see it has 4 different reading.

1 Comment

malcolm drake

Posted August 9, 2010 at 2:27 PM

Hi, Dave,

I have a different multimeter, now obsolete, I’m told, made by and “Elster company”. I figured out some of how it worked, but was told by the national hq of my power company that there was no way to read real time wattage. Wrong! I asked the lineman who came out at my request, and he showed me how. It involves measuring how long it takes to complete one cycle of a little black square which goes to clear, than back to black. From start to start of black (or clear, I presume) is measured, then a formula applied. I’m sure yours is different, but I suggest asking a lineman how to read it.

In fact, over my umpteen years of building houses, and doing renewable energy projects, pretty much everyone at the power company except the linemen should go home. Especially the engineers.

Oh, well. That’s my advice-good luck! (My two (now) roughly 3000 watt systems are kicking out just under 4500 watts in full sun right now. That’s both PV systems combined.

Solar Dave

I am going to be installing solar panels on my house and doing lots of research. Come along for the ride.